The Incredible Shrinking Milk Supply (sorta long but could use some help!)

So I've been plugging along for 8+ months and things have been relatively ok with nursing. I pump 4x per day at work and once before bed. Let's just say pumping has never been a great skill of mine, but I had been satisfied with where things were for a long time. I would get about 12 oz at work and another 3 or so at night. I was giving DD 2 6 oz bottles of breastmilk a day at daycare and one bottle of formula, and freezing the extra.

Now DD is getting more into solids and BAM - I'm lucky to get 9-10 oz at work and 2 at night. I am still able to give her 2 bottles of breastmilk but I need the night pumping to get me there. It seems to be waning more and more. I'm starting to get scared that I won't make it to a year. I'm going to give her everything I can but it's frustrating. I'm sure it's not helping that everytime I pump I'm like, "That's IT???" which is clearly not the serene attitude advocated by lactation consultants

I'm taking More Milk Plus AND Fenugreek and drinking enough water that I've seriously considered moving my office into the ladies room. I'm going to change my membranes and tubing on the pump tonight and am thinking of trying the soft cups instead of the hard plastic horns.

Is it normal for milk supply to drop with older babies? Has anyone gone through this and still made it to the one year mark? I haven't been this focused on my milk supply since DD was a brand new baby.

TIA!!

Re: The Incredible Shrinking Milk Supply (sorta long but could use some help!)

DD just turned 7 months and I have the exact same issue...I have been able to EBF until this point, but I am thinking that in the very near future I am going to have to supplement with formula. Yes, older babies do require less milk, so that could be what you are dealing with, but it is hard to know. I pump 3x at work and today only got 7oz total!!! And I need 12 to feed DD while I am at work. I too pump at night before bed and get another 2oz...but at this point I keep dipping into my freezer stash. I know that my supply is not low b/c I am able to EBF DD on weekends without an issue...it's just that damn pump! I have no words of advice, just wanted to let you know you are not alone! But I also do think it's normal at this point to have less milk.

Re: The Incredible Shrinking Milk Supply (sorta long but could use some help!)

Re: The Incredible Shrinking Milk Supply (sorta long but could use some help!)

Posted by cookiemonster

Posted by nicknmb

Thanks I'm in the same boat, weekends seem to be fine. She does eat a lot of solids (well it seems like a lot) but she is never complaining - I let her nurse whenever she wants and she lets me know. It's like my body is becoming immune to the pump. Ughhhh.

Re: The Incredible Shrinking Milk Supply (sorta long but could use some help!)

Posted by nicknmb

Posted by cookiemonster

Posted by nicknmb

Thanks I'm in the same boat, weekends seem to be fine. She does eat a lot of solids (well it seems like a lot) but she is never complaining - I let her nurse whenever she wants and she lets me know. It's like my body is becoming immune to the pump. Ughhhh.

Unfortunately the pump is not as efficient as our babies. And they way I look at it is that if we didn't have to pump, we wouldn't know how much was coming out and that it was any less than before. We can only do our best and if our best is only getting a few oz at a time, then that's what it is. I have struggled a lot with this, and have shed a lot of tears. But I have decided that I am doing the best I can and if I have to go to formula, then that's what I have to do. But I know that I can always do the first morning feeding and the before bed feeding - and those to me are the 2 most important of the day

Re: The Incredible Shrinking Milk Supply (sorta long but could use some help!)

Hey Jen are you eating oatmeal? My sister bf'd 3 babies for 1 year and she *swears* by oatmeal.
Also here's a link I found from Kellymom.com re:nursing the older infant
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html

Have you/can you call a lactation consultant? Maybe they can help with some ideas to get you through the next 4 months!

Re: The Incredible Shrinking Milk Supply (sorta long but could use some help!)

Posted by cookiemonster


I feel exactly the same way and I know I have to keep going because without pumping I might not have the supply to keep up the morning and night feedings. So I will keep at it. I would hang up the pump tomorrow if I could but I love nursing her

Re: The Incredible Shrinking Milk Supply (sorta long but could use some help!)

Re: The Incredible Shrinking Milk Supply (sorta long but could use some help!)

Posted by nicknmb

Posted by cookiemonster


I feel exactly the same way and I know I have to keep going because without pumping I might not have the supply to keep up the morning and night feedings. So I will keep at it. I would hang up the pump tomorrow if I could but I love nursing her

You would TOTALLY have enough in the morning and evening even without pumping during the day. Our bodeis are amazing - they figure out how much we need! I too love nursing - I never knew it could be so great!!